Robinson R22 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, September 27, 1989
On September 27, 1989 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9078U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND THE FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1989 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9078U · no longer on the register · serial 184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & A STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT DURING AN ABORTED AUTOROTION & INITIATED A GO-AROUND. THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR STRUCK AN UNSEEN FENCE DURING THE GO-AROUND, & THE CFI MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE CFI SAID THAT THE ACDNT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THE LANDING AREA.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,274 hours in all; 1,264 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 1,231 as pilot in command; 1,074 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 13 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.